Electric arc welding electrode holder



Nov. 10, 1936. Q A. BOWLUS 2,060,606

ELECTRIC ARC WELDING ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed April 29,. 1935 WMMEaMuWMMI-l-I i ma frz w22 for @aude/4 @malus Patented Npv. 1o, '1936UNITE-D STATI-:s IP'A'rarl'r OFFICE claude a. Bovins. Birmingham, mon.Application April 29,1935, Serial No. 18.733 s claims. (ci. zia-s) Thisinvention relates to the electric arc welding art, and is intended utoprovide a cheap means of making an arc welding electrode holder thatwill provide sustained comfort to the operator;

5 a greater degree of safety from ash and resultant injury totheeyesight; full protectionfrom accidental electric shock; and enable theoperator to produce more work by adding to his convenience and comfortwhile performing his duties.

1o My invention aims to fully insulate the clamping jaws in which thewelding wire is held both electrically and thermally, so that only asmall portion of the heat generated by the arc is conducted back to thehand of the operator. An additional advantage to be enjoyed with thisparticular electrode holder that will become evident lies in the factthat the outer clamping jaw can be rapidly disassembled' and replaced.Another advantage is that the spring which holds the contact membercarrying the electric current against the welding wire, is containedwholly in the holder and is fully protected against annealing by theheat from the arc. The lever employed to open the wire clamping membersmay be free-L ly rotated about the handle as may be required by theoperator and maybe used readily in either the right or the left hand.The center of gravity oi' the holder is well back of the physicalcenter, so that the major portion of the weight will lie in the hand o!the operator and may be held with the axis horizontal with a minimum ofphysical eiIort. The tool is for all practical purposes, in balanceabout the major axis and provides against the objectionable tilting ofthe welding electrode away from the point at which the arc is beingapplied. and thereby saving a considerable expenditure of physicaleffort on the part of the operator.

' One form of my arc welding electrode holder 40 is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in

which Figure (l) is avertical section of the entire device. Figure (2)is an end view of the same form of the device illustrated in Figure (l).Fig- .ure `(3) is a vertical section of a renewable insulator, outerclamping jaw, and conductor tube assembly, which may be usedinterchangeably with a type of such assembly shown in Figure (l), andaims to provide a means of assuring continuous contact betweenv thecentral conductor bar, and

5o' the tube in which the outer clamping jaw is held. Figure (4) is avertical section of another type o! electrode holder embodying the samegeneral principles of construction of the device shown in Figure (l)with the exception oi the action of the a central conductor bar liftinglever, which is reversed in its action and the electrode would thereforebe required to be held in place by manua1 pressure on said lever by theoperator. Figure (5) is a vertical elevation of a portion of the central.conductor `bar common to Figures (l), 5

(2) (3), and (4), and shows a special method of vconstruction involvinga renewable, wear resistant tip member.

Referring to Figure (1), the device consists essentially of a centralconductor bar I, chaml0 fered at one end at which the electrode isintended to be clamped and provided at the opposite end with a point 8,intended to be inserted into the end of the conductor cable 2, andthreaded back from the pointed end for a portion of its i5 Y length toaccommodate an internally threaded member l, tted to the centralconductor bar over the threaded portion thereof, which serves to clampsaid central conductor tightly to the cable by means of an externalthread fitting to 20 the internal thread of a tubular plunger 4, whichgenerally is of tubular form and which is counterbored for a distancebeyond the internal thread for the reception of a cable clamp ring I,which fits loosely over the skinned 4eni'l of the ilexible, 25 insulatedcable 2, and is tightly expanded against the inner wall of member 4 bymeans of the pressure exerted radially by the thrust of the point 8 ofthe contact bar I. 'I'he above mentioned tubular member 4 is machinedfor a por- 35 tion of its length to a smaller outside diameter and isfurther provided with an annular groove near 'the end opposite thethreaded end for the reception of a small ring 1 made oi material of acircular cross section such as spring wire in 35 an emergencyreplaceable with a small piece of welding wire for the purpose ofholding other parts in assembled relation.

Seated against the shoulder of tubular plunger 4, is a spring 8, helicalfor the greater portionv 40 of this length and having at least one turnformed to a slightly greater diameter and adapted to 't into an annulargroove formed on the inside of the handle 8, the said spring 8 thusmaintaining said handle and said plunger in assembled rela- 45 tion.U'pon detachment'of said spring 8 from said handle, the plunger andparts associated therewith may be removed as a unit.

' Secured on the tubular plunger 4, and detachably retained by theremovable lock ring l, is a knob I0 bored to accurately fittubularmember 4, and counterbored at the outer end to hold lock ring lfirmly in place by confining same to a diameter of said counterbore. Theother side of v Said knob I0, is also counterbored for thereceptionotasmallhelicalspr'ing |I,whichinturn il into a similarcounterbore of knob I2, also provided with an internal bore which fitstubular mernberl,andfora portionofitslength.lsre 5 duced in diameter toaccommodate the lever Il. and also extend into the end of the handle l.The members Il and I2 form a stop limiting the inward movement of thetubular member I within the handle l.

The lever Il is formed of a piece oi' metal ofroundcrosssectionsuchaswlreordrawn rod. bent double with a portion ofits length closely abutng and held by a number of welds I l, and havingthe free ends again spread and formed into a circular loop to fitintimately about the small outer diameter of the knob I2, and abutnormally against one end of the handle I. Pressure on the outer end ofsaid lever Il, sets up a reaction against the plain annular faceperpendicular to the axis o! knob I2, and the handle l. which causesknob I2, knob Il, to be pushed away from the handle and thereforetranslates knob I2, spring II, knob Il, lock ring 1, tubular member l.clamp ring l, clamp nut 3. and central conductor bar I, longitudinallyalong the axis of the handle l. and tubular member Il, to accommodatethe welding wire between the end of the central conductor bar I, and theclamping jaw Il. By releasing lever Il, a welding electrode can be heldiirmly between the end of the conductor bar I, and clamping Jaw Il. Itwill be noted that clamping Jaw Il, is fitted in the end of a tubularmember Il, spun inwardly at one end toward the axis to tightly retainclamping jaw IB, and spun outwardly at the opposite end to fit tightlyagainst the washer I1. Over tubular member I0, is placed another tubularmember Il, which is preferably made of an insulating, heat resistant andn thermally insulating material such as asbestos.

It will be noted that tubular member Il is provided with a lateralopening which registers with a lateral opening in tubular member I0. andis also provided with a hole, which fonns another a lateral openingwhich registers with another hole and therefore second lateral openinginto tube It. These lateral openings are provided for the purpose ofaccommodating the welding wire which is clamped at either an angle of 90or any o other angle that need be chosen. by nxing the angle of thelateral openings accordingly.

The outer diameter of tubular member I8 is chosen structurally to iltthe inner diameter oi the handle l which is povided with a multiplicityof slots 2 I, and threaded outside at i" 1e end to accommodate the clampnut 22, which is made preferably ot an insulating material such as fiber`or asbestos filled cellulose acetate composition, and which is providedwith a tapered thread. As the .o clamp nut 22, is screwed tightly on tothe handle I. the tapered thread of nut 22 clamps the slotted end of thehandle tightly-over the tubular member Il and holds same tightly infunctional relation with the other parts of-the device. It will ,s beevident that by loosening the nut 22. the entire assembly consisting oftubular member Il, tubular member Il. washer I1, and clamping jaw Il,can be readily removed Afor inspection, repair, or replacement. Bypushing back the central con- 70 ductor bar I, into the handle 8, knobIl can be also pushed along tubular member l, lock ring 1 can be removedand the device can be easily disassembled.

Figure l(2) shows the relation of the parts of 's Figure (l), and theend view of lever Il, further indicating the methodin which is formed o!wire andheldinrelationbythewelds Il Figure (3) shows a sectionalelevation a contact Jaw assembly with the welding wire 23 inmember II,and registering with a similar hole in clamping Jaw Il. Also a provisionis made in tubular member Il, by a multiplicity of slots 2l, for bendingthe free ends of said tubular member Il inwardly to provide for themaintenance of a continuous contact between central 'conductor bar I andtubular member Il so that the conductivity of tubular member II andconductor bar I may be made wholly available to carry the electriccurrent to the welding rod 23.

Figure (4) is a vertical elevation oi another type of electrode holderin which the conductor bar I is normally held out of contact with thewelding electrode and is translated axially in the handle by pressure ofthe hand of the operator on the lever Il. The lever Il passes through anenlarged slot 26, in the handle l, loops around the central conductorbar I, is insulated from same by a tubular insulating member 21, and apair of insulating washers 2l and 32. The central conductor bar I, isthreaded for a portion of ita length and over the threads is fitted aclamp nut 29 and also clamp nut l. Sliding on the insulating member 21,is a. bushing Il. which seats against the loop of the handle Il, and isheld continuously in that relation by a spring SI, which is insulatedfrom clamp nut I by washer v28. Handle I3 is also insulated by washer I2from clamp nut 29. On the opposite side of the clamp nut 29, is anotherinsulating washer which serves as a seat for spring l2, which in turnseats at the opposite end against insulating washer 2l, which seatsagainst insulating tube I0. Referring further to mgure (4), it will beevident that if tube I8 is made of insulating material that normally theconductor bar I, is not exposed and would not touch a straight length ofwelding wire which might be inserted into lateral openings I! or 2l, andtherefore if the operator loosens his grip on lever Il, and handle l,the central electrode member I, would move away from contact with thewelding wire and the entire device could be laid downon the work benchor dropped on the floor without serious danger of flashing the operatorsor'other workmen in the vicinity.

Referring to Figure (5). the central conductor bar is shown in part witha broken away section showing provision for a renewable tip I, which hasa tapered end inserted into a corresponding tapered socket formedpreferably by drilling and reaming the end of conductor bar I. Anelongated hole 80, is provided for the insertion of a drift tofacilitate removal of tip Il. 'I'he construction disclosed in Figure (5)provides means of readily, cheaply, and quickly renewing the surfacessubject to severe wear.

What I claim ls:-

l. In a device of the class described, in com bination, a tubular handlemember, a tubular plunger axially movable therein, a cable passingthrough said plunger, a conductor carried by said plunger, and coupledtherewithin to said cable. u

a stop limiting forward movement of said plunger in said handle member,and a compression spring in said handle member urging said plungerforwardly, said spring engaging said plunger and said handle member tomaintain them in assembled relation.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a tubular handlemember, a tubular plunger axially movable therein, a cable, a conductorsecured to said cable in said plunger, a removable stop limiting forwardmovement of said plunger in said handle member, and a compression spring:in said handle member urging said plunger forwardly, said springengaging said handle and said plunger to maintain them inassembled'relation and said spring being detachable from said handleupon removal of said stop.

3. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle member, avconductor-carrying plunger axially movable therein, a spring urgingsaid plunger forwardly in said handle member, a stop limiting suchforward movement of said plunger,

and a plunger-retreating lever engaged between said stop and said handlemember.

4. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle member, aconductor-carrying plunger axially movable therein, a spring urging saidplunger forwardly in said handle member, a stop limiting such forwardmovement of said plunger, and a plunger-retracting lever rotatablyengaged between said stop and said handle member.

5. In a device of the class described, a tubular handle member, aconductorcarrying plunger axially movable therein, a spring urging saidplunger forwardly in said handle member, said spring maintaining saidhandle and said plunger in assembled relation, a stop limiting forwardmovement of said plunger and normally concealing said spring in saidhandle, and a plungerretracting lever engaged between said stopand saidhandle member, said stop being removable from said plunger to permitdetachment of said lever and removal of said spring from said handlemember.

. CLAUDE A. BOWLUS.

